Hey guys, I recently noticed that the mobile repair on the front license plate hole has started to age. I purchased my C350 in August of 07 and unfortunately by that time California mandated that every car had to have plates holders after PDI (pre delivery inspection??) so I had to get a mobile patch up job.

I knew the day would come when the screw holes would start to pit and the paint would chip (but it was comped by my dealer, who warned me of the shortcomings). Well after a few drives up the the I5, trips to Vegas, and daily driving in West LA the front end has seen better days, not just the patch up area.

How much should a respray of the front bumper cost? I'm talking about a quality job, with mercedes OEM Obsidian Black paint and the labor of removing the bumper and what not.

Also, does anyone know of any great shops that they trust in the West Los Angeles area?

Thanks a lot,
Alex

Speaking of an Obsidian Black bumper.

I have quite a few scratchers from stone impact on my bumber & a few on the hood.

I don't mind too much if the paint is scratched a bit, but the problem
is that the 1st paint layer is white & thus the scratches are very noticible.
(basically i now have about 15 white spots on my bumber)

Seems strange that they use a differerent color for the 1st layer...?

Rough guees based upon having my 040 black repainted would be 450.00 to 500.00 USD. This is in NY of course thing might be different in the LA area.

yea in the east coast it will be around $500 cash.

Thanks for the info guys, I checked with a place that was suggested to me by a friend and they said $500. It would involve removing the bumper, refilling the pits with special epoxy, and then respraying it. They also said I could drop it off one morning and pick it up the next afternoon.

The price seems to fall in line with what you guys have said, how about everything else?

Again if anyone has a place they love in West Los Angeles, let me know.

Thanks,
Alex

I recently went to a body shop to ask about repainting my front bumper with its original obsidian black color and they asked for $500. but they said i have to keep it there for four days just make sure the paint completely dried.

not sure how much better it is to keep it there for four days instead of one but better safe than sorry.

Be willing to spend around $300-$500. Don't go to Coach and Colors. They screwed up my Z.

by no means mean to hijack this thread, but would
appreciated the thoughts of others with a black/dark car

Also, what products should i use to clean the car,
prior using the touch up paint?

when i had my c i was quoted $1000 to respray $500 seems like a good a$$ deal

aBOUT $500.00 usd

I just got a quote from a MB dealer-referred body shop to repaint my silver 2008 C350. It was US $1039.01? Why is it so expensive? The quote to have brand new bumper installed and painted was $1503.59.

The breakdown for repaint was:
Labor $909.00
Additional costs: $130.01
------------------------
total: $1039.01


The breakdown for replacement was:
Labor $729.00
Replacement parts $644.58
Additional costs $131.01
----------------------------
total: $1503.59

This shop is affiliated with Auto West collision care center and is located in Concord, CA.

Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

What about Maaco? Are they reliable?

Thanks.

Hi cvkatigbak,
I noticed you are in the Walnut Creek area. I assumed you have your car serviced at MB of Walnut Creek. I was referred to Concord Collision Care by a service advice. The quote was high, I think.
Do you have a reliable body shop that I can take my car for an estimate?
Thank you in advance for your help.

I own a shop in new york, Rojocollision.com and it would run between 450 to 500 depending on how much damage is on the bumper. If you wanted your marker lights removed that would be and addition charge as well.

In the service specials threada, somebody posted a special by a mercedes benz dealer to repaint a bumper. I think it was around 500 but im not sure. see if they can price match

edit: the coupon expired on June 30th. However, it said regular price $1200, special $500

There are scratches, some are deep. They are on the right side next to the lights. But the lights are not affected.
I read horrific things about Maaco, but I don't think all Maacos are alike. I think I will take my car in for an estimate.

Thanks Josh.

Can you post a photo of what this pitting and paint chipping looks like? I'm about to have the same thing done to my car this Friday at the dealership (holes patched up and painted) and I want to be sure it makes sense to do so as opposed to having the whole bumper removed, patched and repainted which would be around $550.

So the patch up job lasted about 2 years?

Just to share information. I had my rear bumper, obsidian black, patch up and re-sprayed at MB (Malaysia).
They dismentled the bumper, took out all the original paint from the whole bumper, patched it up, then re-sprayed, fixed it back. The car was in MB workshop for a total of 3 days, including 2 days for the paint to set. And I was advised not to wash the car for another 2 days.
I think it is important to give about 4 days to let the paint set properly.

There is nothing out of line with the $1039 estimate. If you go to a body shop that repairs MBs all day long, you are much more likely to get a quality job. Which means that when it is done, the repair is undetectable. And if it isn't, when trade-in or sale time comes, you will get less for the car because of the poor repair work. This is no place to cut corners.

And for God's sake, don't go anywhere near Maaco or it's ilk.

Who does your dealer use for their own work?

I think it's the same place. Thanks to Joshg1001 I found out that my Dealer had a special to repaint the bumper for $500. But the special has expired.

Thanks for the insight. I was just (half)-joking when I mentioned Maaco cuz I thought it would get people's attention.

Standard book time for a "new" front bumper refinish is 3.5 hrs labour and $100 materials at absolute most.

4 days to dry is BS. They dry in 2 hrs - 45 min if the shop has a decent paint booth.

Must use flex agent in the paint / clear at least.

Maybe you can get one in black and perfect shape from car-part.com eithar a covr or complte assy - here's a black one


Front Bumper Assy
Mercedes C Class FRT BUMPER COVER BLACK Stock # B3601 $Call K & P Auto Dismantlers USA-CA(Fontana) Request_Quote 1-800-909-6898

What body shop did you end up going with?